Only the Good Die Young

Billy Joel

About Only the Good Die Young

"Only the Good Die Young" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 rock album The Stranger. It was the third of four singles released from the album. The song was controversial for its time, with the lyrics written from the perspective of a young man determined to have sex with a Catholic girl.


Year:
1992
2,049 
#2

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Come out Virginia, don't let 'em wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
Aw but sooner or later it comes down to faith
Oh I might as well be the one

Well, they showed you a statue, told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
Aw, but they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done
Only the good die young
That's what I said
Only the good die young 
Only the good die young

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
Aw but that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia show me a sign
Send up a signal and I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never let's in the sun
Darlin' only the good die young 
Woah
I tell ya
Only the good die young 
Only the good die young

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul
Mmm, and a cross of gold
But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information
You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary 
(Oh woah woah)

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun

You know that only the good die young
I tell ya
Only the good die young
Only the good die young

Well your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
Aw she never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me? oh woah woah

Come out come out come out Virginia don't let 'em wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
Oh sooner or later it comes down to faith
Oh I might as well be the one
You know that only the good die young

I'm telling you baby
You know that only the good die young
Only the good die young
Only the good
Only the good die young

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Billy Joel

William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA. He also has the third best-selling album in the United States with his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2. more »

16 fans

Written by: Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

ARTIST ORIGINATION
"Only The Good Die Young" is a song by Billy Joel, an American singer-songwriter and pianist known for his rich pop-rock compositions.
ALBUM SUCCESS
The song is from his fifth studio album "The Stranger," released in 1977. This album established Joel as a leading rock and roll artist.
SONG INSPIRATION
The song was reportedly inspired by a conversation Joel had with a girl he had a crush on - Virginia Ellen Callahan.
RELIGIOUS CRITICISM
After its release, the song was banned by religious organizations and even some radio stations due to its controversial lyrics suggesting a young girl should lose her virginity.
RESILIENCE IN RESPONSE TO BAN
Despite the ban, Billy Joel performed the song live on a variety of platforms, which only boosted its popularity.
CHART PERFORMANCE
"Only The Good Die Young" peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking its success in the music industry.
LYRICS EXPLORATION
Joel wrote the song from the perspective of a young man trying to convince a religious girl named Virginia that life should be lived to the fullest.
GENRE CLASSIFICATION
The song is typically classified as Rock, Pop Rock, Soft Rock.
LENGTH OF SONG
The song has a runtime of approximately 3:54 minutes in the album.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
"Only The Good Die Young" has become a staple of Joel's live performances, demonstrating the lasting appeal of the song.
CONSUMER RECEPTION
Fans and critics alike have praised the song's catchy tune and controversial lyrics, considering it as one of Billy Joel's signature songs.
ACCOLADES
In 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Only The Good Die Young" at number 99 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

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    Only the Good Die Young

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1978

    Billboard #24


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